This week in First (8/19-8/23)

Agenda and reminders for the week of August 19, 2013

In ELA/Reading we are reading Sam, Come Back!. This story is about a mischevious (good word to look up in the dictionary!) cat named Sam who loves to play.  The grammar for this story deals with forming sentences.

*Review grammar concepts with your child by:

-having your child orally form sentences CORRECTLY at all times

-having your child write complete sentences with proper capitals and punctuation.  Make sure they understand a sentence needs a "who" and "what" to be complete.
-cutting pre-made sentences for your child to arrange correctly
Video
~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdUXxdmhIsw

Our Saxon Phonics for the week deals with the letters N, O, T, and P.  We will not have a spelling test this week, but please review these letter sounds and basic CVC(consonant-vowel-consonant)words that include these letters with your child.
Review phonics concepts with your child by:
-having spelling practice with N, O, T, P words and sounds (ideas-writing on a white board, writing on a mirror(dry erase markers also work on mirrors!), spelling words in/with play-do, shaving cream, pasta, on your back, orally etc.)
-finding N, T, O, P words in magazines, newspapers, billboards, etc.
-making flashcards to read and repeat(spelling words)
-make a chart of words using these letters (real and nonsense words) 

Videos

~Havefunteaching on YouTube has loads of sound practice and sight word practice that you can utilize at home

*feel free to look up more on your own games/review geared toward this weeks concepts: 
~ http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=2954750 (amazing words)
~ http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=3168775 (high frequency sight words)

Other games and activities online:
- http://www.quia.com/jg/1086590.html (Sam, Come Back! games)
-use  Odyssey

-use Starfall (Starfall)
*Can your child read the story outside of the book? Try it! http://www.soundcityreading.com/rsstoriesunit1.pdf (This link contains all unit 1 stories, you can print each one or read them as we do, online)

**Please look out for phonics geared books/small group books that may come home with your child.  These may not be on your child's homework  list, but it is still important that they have the opportunity to read as much as they can, as often as they can.

**Repetition is key!!

In Math, we will be working on number order and before, after and in between numbers. 

*You can review these concepts with your child by:
-using a deck of cards where your child chooses a number and tells you what comes before or after (you can use 2 cards to make double digit numbers or more for higher numbers)
-simply calling out numbers for your child to tell you what comes before, after or in between
-giving random numbers to put in order
Odyssey which has teacher created assignments/games

-utilizing xtramath.org (for continued addition and subtraction help)

-utilizing Starfall (which now has a math component)
-utilizing http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1

In Science, we are focusing magnets.  We will discuss how magnets work, what they can and can not attract, and how the repel. 

*Science Vocabulary:   
attract, repel, poles, energy

Important Dates
8/23 - Boogie in the Bus Lane 

9/2 - No School, Labor Day
9/5 - Progress Reports